Pipe-cutter



I. F. WRIGHT.

PIPE CUTTER.

APPLICATION FILED IUNE 2, 1919.

Patented May 11, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I- I. l a

Il. Haz.

J. F FIGH T', INVENToR.-

H/S A TTORNE Y.

I. F. WRIGHT.

PIPE CUTTER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2l 1919.

1,339,641, I Patented May 11, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.`

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J. E T,' INVENToR.

|:gli {l-17g@ l I v I I I 2 l 4 26 n I BY HIS ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

` -JoHN F. WRIGHT, oF DAMON, TEXAS.

PIPE-CUTTER.

Specification ofLetters lPatent. i 4lffgenfd luay 11, 1920.

Application med Juneaisie. serial No. 301.169.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that II, JOHN F. lVRioHT, a citizen of the United States,l residing at Damon, Brazoria county, Texas. have`in-V vented a certain new and useful Improve-4 ment in Pipe-Cutters, of which .the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such aswill enable others skilled inthe art to which it appertains to make and use vthe same. Y l

' My invention relates to an improvement in means for cutting pipe or casing in wells or mines. It has particular reference to a rotating cutter which may be inserted down inside a pipe in an-oil or water well, and employed to sever the pipe at'the desired point so that the length of pipe may be thereafter withdrawn from the well.

An object of my invention is to provide a device of the character described which will be simple and 'strong in structure so that it` may withstand the heavy strains to -`which it is subjected and which will positively act to` completely sever the pipe.

Another object is to provide a means for positively expanding the cutters and holding them in rigid contact with the side of thev pipe being cut so that the cutters will be certain in Atheir action. Other objects and advantages will appear from the speciiication which follows, and will be pointed out `with more particularity `in the claims.

Referring tothe drawings forming a part of this specification, and wherein like. parts are designated by like numerals throughout the-several views, Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section showing my improved cutter inserted within a plpe to be' cut; Fig. 2 is ai similar view with the parts in a different position from that shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a'transverse section on the plane 343v of Fig. 2; Fig. 4' is a transverse section onthe plane 1 -4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a transverse section similar to that shown in Fig. 3, but illustrating the use of three instead of four cutters; Fig. 6 is a side View vof a modified form of one of the sliding blocks' in which the cutters are mounted.

When a pipe, casing or strainer has been set in a well, it frequently becomes vnecessary to withdraw the same from the hole after it has become somewhat set or froze in the hole. In such cases it is practically impossible to unscrew the pipe at the joints, and it therefore becomes necessary to introduce a pipe cutting means down inside the pipe and to expand the cutters andsever the said `pipe in sections of a length which may be withdrawn from the well by means of a tap of ordinary construction. In the type of cuttersnow in ordinary use in this operation it is almost impossible to advance the cuttersn vso that the pipe will be `completely severed,

and even when the pipe has been cut it can not be ascertained whether thecomplete operation has been performed. In my invention, I have provided a type of mounting for the cutter which is positive in its action and will serve to advance the cutters so-that l'the same vwill be forced completely through the pipe, and, when the cutters have entirely severed the pipe or casing, the action of the operating means will indicate when the operation has been completed. i

In Figs. 1 and 2, have illustrated my de- 'vice inserted within a casing 10 in -a well.

The cutters are mounted Within a ltubular housing 11 threaded vinteriorly `at the -upper end for attachment to a drill stem 12 of cutters are disk-shaped, havinv a circular sharpened cutting'edge 18. Sai cutters are mounted upon vertical spindles 19, and are housed within slots 2() in the outer face of the sliding yblocks or dogs 21 in the side of the housing. The said housing is extended inwardly somewhat, as shown at 22, to provide an outer.`recess 23 for the operation of leaf springs 24, which are secured v at one end by means of set screws 25. These springs extend at their free ends into recesses 26 in the sdesof'the sliding blocks 21, and act, under ordinary co'ndltions, to force the blocks inwardl out of contact with the casing. The b ocks are slidable radially of the housing ythrough openings 27 lin the walls 22 of the housing 11. The inner faces -of the blocks 21 are threaded at 28 with a coarse thread and are beveled or tapered inwardly from the lower endto a point `above thecentral portion thereof. The upper portion at 28 is Vertical and also threaded. The upper ,facel of the block is likewise threaded toward the inner half thereof with a circular thread 30- adapted to.'engage with similar threads cut upon `the mandrel 15. 1

The mandrel is tubular in shape an has its walls thickened midway of lits ends to provide an expanding cone 29.` This conehasa lower cylindrical portion 31 having a threaded outer periphery thereon. The cylindrical portion terminates at its upper end in a tapered surface which is threaded for engagement with the threaded portion 28 upon the sliding blocks 21. rlhe upper tubular end.33 of the mandrel is extended upwardly for a slight distance above the expanding cone to form a guide for the same. This guide is slidable within a guide ring 34, which is threaded within the up,-

., per end of the housing 11'. The inner dperipheral 'face of the cap"13 is also threade 31l for coperation with the mandrel at 31.

The chuck 16 is a cylindrical block havj ing a tubular passage 46 bored therein, this passage being a continuation of the tubular mandrel 15. The chuck is provided with a number of slidable anchoring disks 35. These disks are set vertically in slots in the outer faces of sliding blocks 36, set

i in radial irecesses in the outer faces of the chuck. 'p These disks are somewhat frusto-conical in shape, providing a sharp tooth 38 on one edge thereof. These cutters may also be toothed to provide a still better gripping edge upon the saine for the Y purpose of engaging the inner face of the pipe. The disksare rotatable upon transverse pins 39. The blocks are engaged at the upper and lower faces thereof by leaf springs 40, which act to force the blocks 36,

'and the cutters 35 mounted therein, outwardly to engage with the casing. These leaf springs are mounted in 'recesses inthe outer face ofthe chuck and are held rigidly at one end by means of set screws 41.

1 of the lessening of friction, due to the ro-V n tating pinion.

It will be possible in the larger sizes of pipe to use as many as four of the cutters 17 (as shown in Fig. 3) in cutting the pipe` l"but in smaller sizes of pipe it will be pref erable to use a smaller number, as three cut'- ters, shown particularly in Fig. 5. These cutters may also be' provided, on their inner ends, with threaded pinions 42 mounted in an inclined position, as shown I in .6, upon pins 43.,- These pinions will act in the same manner as `the threaded faces 28 of the blocks previously described, but will be more easy of operation because The space between the expanding cone 29 and the housing 11 will serve as a grease container, and will be filled with grease be fore insertion of the 'device into the well.

` Branching passages or ducts 44 may then be provided` in the sides of the. blocks 21 to allow the passage of the grease outwardly for lubrication of the cutters 17, as shown in Figs. 1 and 6. l

When it is desired to sever a length of pipe, my cutting device is secured Hto the lower end of the drill stem and inserted downwardly into the pipe, the chuck 16 pre' ceding the cutting means into the well.

The anchoring disks 35 will Vbe expanded outwardlyby the springs 40 so that as the device is inserted into the well the said disks Vwill roll upon'the side of the casing and The relative vposition of the parts will then be about as shown in Fig. 2. -When the proper depth has "been reached, the drill stem 12 will be rotated in a right hand directionl The threaded portion 31 of. the

mandrel will bein engagement with the threads 31 and will be unscrewed by this rotation forcing the mandrel upwardly.

The anchoring rollers 35, upon the chuck 16, will, by their contact with the inner face f of the casing, prevent the rotation of the chuck and the mandrel 15 attached thereto. It will be-obvious, however, that the chuck may be drawn upwardly 'toward the cutter and this action occurs when the housing is rotated. The teeth 28, on the inner face-of the cutters will then come into contact with the teeth 32 on the tapered face of the mandrel. Pipe 12 will then be held against lon'- gitudinalmovement and will be rotated so as to draw the mandrel upwardly between.-

the blocks, and thereby to expand the blocks and to thus force the cutters into contact with the inner face of the pipe to be cut.

The continued rotation of the pipe and the housing 15 will then act toforce the cutters gradually through the pipe as they are rolled around on the inner face thereof, and as the cutters progress through the pipe the mandrel will be drawn upwardly between' they blocks. When the cutters have entirely severed the pipe, the blocks will be in their extreme outer position' and will allow the mandrel to pass between the blocks.

teeth fon the vertical portion of the inner face of the block and will be drawn upwardly past the blocks. The springsJ will f then act with the threads on the upper face e I The cylinn drical surface 31 will be engaged with the of the blocks and onthe coacting face of the mandrel to `forcethe blocks inwardly into the f position shown'- in Fig). threads onthe upper faceof the l drill stem will .serve then remain in mesh with those on theclower `ace of the mandrel, and the blocks will be Further jrotatonf'of the.

held stationary.

simply to rotate the housing.v The releaseof the strain uponthe I' lthe'u'nandrel and theblocks willcause the be provided with a mandrel to become too the rotation vof tinued, and the cutters withdrawn from the drill pipe, due tothe' contact of the cutters with the casing, willthen be observed, and the pipe may be disconwell.A

ond time in the well,` the chuck onA the end of the cutter isA rotated by hand in the'\reverse direction and the'coaction of lthe teeth .upon

blocks to be again expanded so that'the mandrel may bedrawn sition shown 1n Fig. Q, and in this position the device is ready t be again inserted into i the well. The upper face of the cap 13 may cone bearing s0 that the rotation o the housing relative to the mandrel will not mutila-te the threads on the lower face' thereof,.and will not allow the firmly seated in the lower end of the housing.

l Letters Patent is:

' Having ,thus described my invention, the

further objects and advantages of which will be lobvious without more description,

what I `claim as new and desire toprotect by 1. Iniapipe cutter, the combination of a housing, cutters mounted in blocks slidable radially therein, the inner ends of .said blocks being threaded, al tapered mandrel betweensaid blocks, threads on said mandrel adapted tocoperate with saidthreaded blocks to advance said cutters and means -operative when the larger end 'oi said mandrel has passed said blocks to withdraw said cut# ters..

1.. The jocks'will 1 'vhen it isdesired to use the cutters a sec-v downwardly o into the po-l 4coperate '2. In a pipe cutter, a rotatable housing, cutters slidable therein,a non-rotatable mandrel in said housing to .advance said cutters,- when said housingis rotated inone'direction, separate means to withdraw said cutters operative without reverse rotation of said housing when sald cutting operation has been completed 'and'separate means von said mandrel to agaln advance said cutters. 3. .In a pipe cutter, a housin mounted in blocks slidable in sai end thereof, said tapered portion and shoul-v cutters housing, a tapered mandrel, a shoulder atthe'larger der being threaded, said blocks threaded to coperate therewith, whereby said blocks vmay be advanced or,withdrawn by means of the rotation of one of said threaded members relative to vthe other.

k 4. In a pipe cutter, a rotatable housing, cutters mounted in' blocks slidable in said housing, anon-'rotatable tapered mandrel threaded on its tapered surface, a Ccylindrical threaded surface at the larger end ofV said'mandrel, said blocks being threaded to. lwith said threaded ortions of said mandrel so that'the' rot'atlon o'ffsaid housing in one direction will act to advance said cutters and allow them to be again withdrawn when the lcutting operation hasl been completed.

' 5. In apipe; cutter,a rotatablel housing, cutters slidable therein, a non-rotatableftapered mandrel bearing on said cutters and adapted to advance them, a shoulder on said mandrel, means to withdraw said cutters when said shoulder has' passed said cutters,

' and means on said shoulder to lagain advance said cutters.

. In testimony i signature this the 23rd day of May, A. D. 1919. 'l

whereof -I hereunto aliix my 

